Here are this week’s candidates for Prime Time Performer.
You can vote once every 12 hours until the polls close on Friday at 5 p.m.
Yaakema Rose (Lanphier Guard) Any surprise to see Yaak on the list this week? In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past weekend go check up on the City highlights. Rose AVERAGED 26 points, seven rebounds, nearly four steals and three blocks. He also had two back flips after the Lions beat Southeast…so there’s that too.
Isaiah Walton (Southeast Guard) Slim put up 22 in the City championship, the only Spartan in double figures. He did all he could to bring the trophy back to the East Side but it was Rose’s year to do so for the North Side. Walton did set a new City tournament record over the weekend though, dropping 12 three-pointers in three games. He knocked down five against SHG, three against Springfield and four against Lanphier.
Spencer Redd (SHG Guard) Was there a bigger smile at City this season? Spencer Redd was grinning from ear to ear as he earned the breakout performance award. Redd scored 15 points in the Cyclone’s overtime thriller against Lanphier and then dropped 16 on Saturday against Springfield High. Watch for Redd doing a little bit of everything for SHG for the rest of the season.
Zaire Harris (Springfield High Guard) We marked him as a Young Bull to watch last week and he delivered on Saturday night at City. The sophomore Senator finally gave High Pride something to be even louder than usual about with a game high 21 points in Springfield’s win over SHG. Harris went a perfect 10 for 10 from the charity stripe against the Cyclones to help seal up the victory late. We’re glad we get to see Harris for a couple more years ball out at the PCCC.
Bryson Kirby (Lincoln Guard) In case you haven’t checked the CS8 standings lately, there’s a somewhat surprise near the top. The Lincoln Railsplitters only have three conference losses including a tough one to Jacksonville just last week at the buzzer. Bryson Kirby led the Railers with five three-pointers in games against Eisenhower & MacArthur, both wins for Lincoln last week. On team full of youth, Kirby connecting from downtown calms the inexperience.
James White & Brady Hays (Jacksonville Guards) Earlier last week, we were going to go with James White from Jacksonville as the Prime Time Performer. White broke the school record for three-pointers made in a game, a record he set last season. He drained nine threes and had 34 points against Eisenhower. But then we had Brady Hays hitting the game winner at Lincoln at the buzzer. The two senior guards get the nod this week as a combo.
Skylar Hayes (Mt. Pulaski Guard) How many players reach the 1,000 point club in small school girls basketball in their high school careers? Not many. How many players reach the 1,000 point club in small school girls basketball as a sophomore? It’s virtually unheard of. Mt. Pulaski’s Skylar Hayes broke her own school record with 42 points on Saturday against Maroa-Forsyth as the Hilltoppers came back from a 19 point deficit to defeat the Trojans 85-80. Hayes is a must see show out in Mt. Pulaski.
Brice Casey (Rochester Wrestler) Typically the race for the CS8 wrestling title has been a two horse deal between Springfield High and Glenwood. The Rockets have thrown their hat in the ring this season and plan to stay. Senior Brice Casey had himself quite a week to help put the Rockets on the map. Casey picked up victories against Southeast & Springfield on Thursday and then won the 145 pound title at the Rocket Invite on Saturday.
Gage Hamill (Springfield Swim) The future Hoosier has been on the PTP list a few times before and we’ll be seeing plenty more of him in the coming months. Springfield High swimmer Gage Hamill won the 100 butterfly and was a key piece of the 400 meter relay to help the Senators win the St. Charles Invitational on Saturday. Hamill also came in second in the 200 freestyle and helped the 200 medley relay finish second as the Solons edged Barrington by 9.5 points.
Logan Clayton (Taylorville Guard) We didn’t get a chance to see the Tornadoes at the Litchfield Invitational this season, but we definitely took notice of what Logan Clayton was doing down south. Clayton was a lock for the all tournament team in which Taylorville finished third after putting up 32 points, including eight three-pointers against Nokomis in their final game. Clayton also had 19 against Civic Memorial and 19 against East Alton-Wood River.
Angela Perry (Rochester Forward) The big CS8 girls matchup between Rochester and Springfield High turned into the Rockets making a serious statement for the rest of the conference and 3A teams across the state. Angela Perry was a huge reason why Rochester had no trouble with the Senators. The Bowling Green commit had 17 points, including a perfect line from the floor going 6 for 6 on field goals and 3 for 3 from the charity stripe.
Makenzie Bray (Glenwood Forward) On Prime Time Performer, school records get noticed, just ask James White. The scoring record in a single game fell out in Chatham last week. Makenzie Bray put up 36 points in a huge win over Quincy Notre Dame to set the school record at Glenwood. The Titans scoring machine also had 20 in a win over Eisenhower.
